Completely agree. Completion percentage also counts inaccurate passes and screens and the like. There is no way to tell from the numbers themselves where the physical placement, the trajectory, the velocity, etc of the ball is. Even a difference of 25 completions can swing completion percentage by 5% if 500 passes were thrown.

Uh, yeah. Give me the guy who completes 25 more passes in a sample of 500.

__________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

I've been doing some intense highlight/lowlight film watching on the big quarterbacks including, Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett,. Here are my breakdowns.
Blaine Gabbert:
Terrific size in terms of height and weight and it works to his advantage. He makes surprisingly deep throws while being chased on the run with just the flick of his wrist, truly outstanding. What stands out the most is the system he plays in. Everything is planned perfectly prior to the snap and when his short slant or deep throw read isn't there, he hesitates and begins to scramble.. and very slowly I might add. 60% of these scrambling plays end up in a missed throw/ball thrown out of play and the other 40% seem to end up with sacks or minor gains. Overall I see three things with him that are essential in a franchise quarterback of today's NFL. Big size+arm, Intangibles, and accuracy. What I see that needs to be fixed before he can take a snap in the NFL is his footwork and his ability to throw to his 3rd or 4th read. 9/10 and in my opinion the best Shanahan QB. Comparison: Joe Flacco

Jake Locker:
The most athletically gifted true NFL level quarterback I've seen in years. When you first watch Jake Locker you'll want to personally go yell at his teammates for being just downright terrible. His o-line is NCAA equivalent of the 2009/10 Washington Redskins... and that's being generous. Jake Locker is able to run the play action to perfection despite having such a brutal supporting cast. When he runs it's usually because he has too and when he throws it's not the accuracy that's questioned, but the hands of his receivers. Essentially what I'm getting at is, he shows flashes of brilliance a la Aaron Rodgers, but because of his team can't deliver on a consistent basis. What I see from him is his ability to shed blocks and outrun the defense, his throwing accuracy/strength on the run, and his ability to single-handedly win games for his team. What needs to be corrected is his decision making, getting the ball out quicker, and his accuracy while throwing out of the pocket. 8/10. Drafting Jake Locker would be based purely on potential, but if he pans out... look out NFC East. Certainly not the prototypical Shanahan QB, but neither was McNabb.
Comparison: A poor mans Aaron Rodgers

Ryan Mallett
His height and arm strength are second to none in this draft. Great accuracy on the deep ball, but will often overthrow shorter slants and crosses. His footwork and pocket awareness is pretty poor. Unlike Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Mallett has a lack of ability to scramble outside and find receivers. When he feels and sees pressure he becomes very awkward and will often loose yardage instead of throwing the ball away. I just don't like anything outside of his arm as an NFL quarterback. What he needs to work on is his endurance and his ability to see pressure before he's on his back. In a system such as Minnesota, he has a lot of potential, but he'd struggle playing for Shanahan. 7/10 Least favorite by far.
Comparison: Matt Stafford with less mobility and accuracy.

Cam Newton
Good luck getting this guy. He'll be gone top three and baring a miracle we will without a doubt have our franchise quarterback. 9.5/10.. Although he does have a short history and played on an EXCELLENT football team.
Comparison: Very unique. High end accuracy, great running threat, has it all.

If we're going to draft a quarterback at #10, in my opinion only Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker should be our targets. Blaine Gabbert looks like he could play by 2012... I really really like his game.

I am with you on this. We need top linemen for our new QB. Newton or Gabbert are going to suck with this line, so why waste a pick on a qb in the first.

I hear ya but ya mention taking an OL in the 1st round and unless he's a LT people will say too high. Where's high enough? 15th, 20th, 25th? Can we trade out to get a later round pick or will the team be stuck with picking #10?

I'm leaning toward Dalton though in a later round. But if it looks like we don't get extra picks then I'd have to take him in Round 2. I'd hate to be hoping he fell to us in the 4th which I doubt happens.

Something about Newton bothers me. I can't put my finger on it but he appears like he's not comfortable standing in the pocket waiting for a play to develope.... happy feet all over the place. Then because he's not patient he scrambles. Don't get me wrong he's got a good arm and is elusive but it's just something about him. I remember Randle Cunningham and he looked the same way. Never comfortable and always running in circles or running the ball.

I've been doing some intense highlight/lowlight film watching on the big quarterbacks including, Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett,. Here are my breakdowns.
Blaine Gabbert:
Terrific size in terms of height and weight and it works to his advantage. He makes surprisingly deep throws while being chased on the run with just the flick of his wrist, truly outstanding. What stands out the most is the system he plays in. Everything is planned perfectly prior to the snap and when his short slant or deep throw read isn't there, he hesitates and begins to scramble.. and very slowly I might add. 60% of these scrambling plays end up in a missed throw/ball thrown out of play and the other 40% seem to end up with sacks or minor gains. Overall I see three things with him that are essential in a franchise quarterback of today's NFL. Big size+arm, Intangibles, and accuracy. What I see that needs to be fixed before he can take a snap in the NFL is his footwork and his ability to throw to his 3rd or 4th read. 9/10 and in my opinion the best Shanahan QB. Comparison: Joe Flacco

Jake Locker:
The most athletically gifted true NFL level quarterback I've seen in years. When you first watch Jake Locker you'll want to personally go yell at his teammates for being just downright terrible. His o-line is NCAA equivalent of the 2009/10 Washington Redskins... and that's being generous. Jake Locker is able to run the play action to perfection despite having such a brutal supporting cast. When he runs it's usually because he has too and when he throws it's not the accuracy that's questioned, but the hands of his receivers. Essentially what I'm getting at is, he shows flashes of brilliance a la Aaron Rodgers, but because of his team can't deliver on a consistent basis. What I see from him is his ability to shed blocks and outrun the defense, his throwing accuracy/strength on the run, and his ability to single-handedly win games for his team. What needs to be corrected is his decision making, getting the ball out quicker, and his accuracy while throwing out of the pocket. 8/10. Drafting Jake Locker would be based purely on potential, but if he pans out... look out NFC East. Certainly not the prototypical Shanahan QB, but neither was McNabb.
Comparison: A poor mans Aaron Rodgers

Ryan Mallett
His height and arm strength are second to none in this draft. Great accuracy on the deep ball, but will often overthrow shorter slants and crosses. His footwork and pocket awareness is pretty poor. Unlike Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Mallett has a lack of ability to scramble outside and find receivers. When he feels and sees pressure he becomes very awkward and will often loose yardage instead of throwing the ball away. I just don't like anything outside of his arm as an NFL quarterback. What he needs to work on is his endurance and his ability to see pressure before he's on his back. In a system such as Minnesota, he has a lot of potential, but he'd struggle playing for Shanahan. 7/10 Least favorite by far.
Comparison: Matt Stafford with less mobility and accuracy.

Cam Newton
Good luck getting this guy. He'll be gone top three and baring a miracle we will without a doubt have our franchise quarterback. 9.5/10.. Although he does have a short history and played on an EXCELLENT football team.
Comparison: Very unique. High end accuracy, great running threat, has it all.

If we're going to draft a quarterback at #10, in my opinion only Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker should be our targets. Blaine Gabbert looks like he could play by 2012... I really really like his game.

I think Stafford is a really good Mallett comparison, though I would argue that Mallett is actually a little more accurate in most fields (maybe not the flats or deep outs). Stafford also got the highest grades for his intangibles (being the face of a franchise, etc), and Mallett has questions there. But the comparison, I think, is a really good one.

__________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

I think Stafford is a really good Mallett comparison, though I would argue that Mallett is actually a little more accurate in most fields (maybe not the flats or deep outs). Stafford also got the highest grades for his intangibles (being the face of a franchise, etc), and Mallett has questions there. But the comparison, I think, is a really good one.

Yeah I've been using that one for a while now.

Both play a one dimensional game, although I think Stafford is still a much better competitor and football player.

I live in Settle. People here don't love Locker and with just reason. He is just like Clausen, can't win games, too many missed plays.

I think the comparison to Clausen is completely inaccurate. Clausen had some of the most talented players in the nation on his offense and he couldn't get it done. Some of that may be coaching, but there is no way you can accurately compare the two. Locker didn't play with a 1/3 of the talent that Clausen did. I still believe that Clausen may develop into a top qb because he does have all the skills needed, we'll just have to see if he's given the chance and if he works hard enough to earn it.

I think the comparison to Clausen is completely inaccurate. Clausen had some of the most talented players in the nation on his offense and he couldn't get it done. Some of that may be coaching, but there is no way you can accurately compare the two. Locker didn't play with a 1/3 of the talent that Clausen did. I still believe that Clausen may develop into a top qb because he does have all the skills needed, we'll just have to see if he's given the chance and if he works hard enough to earn it.

Didn't Clausen's ND offense put up over 30 points six times last year, only to lose five times because the defense gave up more, or something like that?

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Didn't Clausen's ND offense put up over 30 points six times last year, only to lose five times because the defense gave up more, or something like that?

They put up 30+ 8 times in 2009 and lost 4 of those games. Yeah, you're right, ND's defense that year was horrid to say the least, at least as far as points allowed go. Clausen has a ton of talent, but to compare Locker and his production is just not a good comparison due to the level of talent each team had. Considering how terrible the Panthers talent level currently is on offense, how could anyone expect much from Clausen.